Associate-degree level versus the Baccalaureate-degree level in Nursing
Nurses are an imperative part of the health care team. Working concurrently with doctors, nurses ensure that patients obtain the highest quality of care and execute many of the routine functions of patient treatment. Associate degree nursing (ADN) education developed from Mildred Montag's research and differentiated practice vision in 1952. From the first set of graduates, Montag's differentiated practice vision did not take hold. Lack of differentiation of nurses' role and functions in practice based on education preparation continues today (Mathias, 2009). An Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) emphases on the technical standpoints of nursing, rather than the theoretical and academic aspects of nursing usually covered in a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program. ADN students will have to accomplish some fundamental prerequisites before taking nursing curriculum, such as courses in writing, social science, history, etc. Nursing-specific module will likely enfold such topics as anatomy and physiology, chemistry, biology, family health, pediatric and geriatric medicine, pharmacology, psychology and mental health. State Boards of Nursing in each state regulate which programs are customary for that state. Upon achievement of a state certified curriculum of study, the nursing candidate will need to pass the NCLEX, or the National Council Licensure Examination. Fortuitously, most of the two-year courses for an ADN are geared en route for helping graduates to pass the NCLEX. With the existing high exigency for nurses, employment for someone with an associate degree in nursing and a bona fide nursing license is virtually guaranteed. The…...

Similar Documents

...Preparation of a Nurse: BSN vs ADN
NRS-430V-O102
August 4, 2013
Educational Preparation of a Nurse: BSN vs ADN
Nurses have several different options regarding their education. Since the 1950’s collages have offered entry level baccalaureate nursing programs to entry level students (Creasia & Friberg, 2011). Nursing shortages began to rise postwar years and this lead into the development of 2-year associate degree nursing programs. Mildred Montag proposed these programs and after a 5 year study of graduates from an associates program, the program was deemed successful. Funding for the program was secured in 1964 and community colleges began opening AD programs at an astonishing rate (Creasia & Friberg, 2011). The associate degree programs made it more accessible for men, women with families, older graduates, and other atypical students to attend the program. Nursing shortages were minimized in 1970s and 1980s due to the addition of the AND programs, and today associate nursing programs are the major entry point into nursing (Creasia & Friberg, 2011). In 2008 the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) conducted a survey that revealed nursing is the nation’s largest health care profession with more than 3 million registered nurses nationwide. 50% of the RNs in the workforce hold a baccalaureate or graduate degree while 36.1% hold an associate degree (American Association of Colleges of Nursing, 2012).
On paper a BSN nurse and an ADN nurse look......

...least two-thirds of the nurse workforce hold baccalaureate or higher degrees in nursing by 2010.
Baccalaureate Nursing Program
Baccalaureate nursing programs encompass all of the course work taught in associate degree and diploma programs plus a more in-depth treatment of the physical and social sciences, nursing research, public and community health, nursing management, and the humanities. The additional course work enhances the student’s professional development, prepares the new nurse for a broader scope of practice, and provides the nurse with a better understanding of the cultural, political, economic, and social issues that affect patients and influence health care delivery. There are distinct differences between the 72 ADN credits and 125 BSN credits required in each of the nursing programs' curriculum. The baccalaureate curriculum has a different focus, emphasizing evidenced-based clinical practice and leadership. Additional courses are offered in the baccalaureate curriculum, such as research, statistics, critical thinking, and public health/community health. In addition, the additional units prepare the baccalaureate nurse to pursue graduate study, leading to an advanced degree in nursing. Baccalaureate nursing programs encompass all of the course work taught in associate degree and diploma programs plus a more in-depth treatment of the physical and social sciences, nursing research, public and community health, nursing management, and the humanities. The......

...BSN vs. ADN in Nursing
Anita Scheiman
Grand Canyon University
NRS-430V
November 1, 2013
BSN vs. ADN in Nursing
Through my research for this paper I have found that RNs who have an associate degree or diploma are more likely to make errors during clinical practice. Nurses who hold Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degrees have a stronger foundation in which to build better communication, leadership, critical thinking and problem solving skills. The high demands placed on today's nurses really challenge all of these skills on a daily basis. Nurses with Bachelor of Science in Nursing degrees have a better understanding of the importance to be proficient in these skills. In a study of RN-to-BSN degree graduates from 1995 to 1998 (Phillips, Palmer, Zimmerman, & Mayfield, 2002), these students demonstrated higher competency in nursing practice, communication, leadership, professional integration, and research/evaluation. The added classes enhances the student’s view for a wide scope of practice which will aid the nurse in comprehending the many issues that plague patients and impact health care. A Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree can help a nurse be more confident in his/her ability no matter the patient care setting. Numerous research studies have demonstrated that the ADN and BSN nurses are not different in skill competency when they graduate, but over time, the BSN nurses show greater critical thinking skills, better problem solving, and the......

...Competency Differences Between ADN vs BSN in Nursing
Grand Canyon University: Professional Dynamics
Competency Differences For ADN vs BSN in Nursing
Are all registered nurses created equal and the same? To simply put it, no they are not. A registered nurse may be prepared at the diploma level, associate-degree level, baccalaureate-degree level, master degree level, and some possess a doctoral degree. The focus of this paper will be directed at the differences in competencies between nurses prepared at the associate-degree (ADN) level and nurses prepared at the baccalaureate-degree (BSN) level. Graduates from either degree must pass an examination as put forth by the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) in order to become a licensed registered nurse. The NCLEX exam is the same for both degrees even though their prepared education is different. Three major differences in nursing competencies include education, nursing judgment, and professional identity. The following paragraphs will review and discuss how nursing care or approaches to decision making may differ upon the educational background of a registered nurse.
First and foremost, “baccalaureate nursing programs encompass all of the course work taught in associate degree and diploma programs plus a more in-depth treatment of the physical and social sciences, nursing research, public and community health, nursing management, and the humanities” ("Impact of Education," 2014, para. 4). The......

...Degree in Nursing vs Baccalaureates Degree in Nursing
There are several differences between the associates’ degree (ADN) and the baccalaureates degree (BSN) in nursing of which in the following I will be exploring. According to the CGU College of Nursing Philosophy (2011) “In the baccalaureate program, clients are considered to be individuals, families, groups, communities, and populations.” Baccalaureate nursing practice incorporates the roles of assessing, critical thinking, communicating, providing care, teaching, and leading. Autonomy, altruism, human dignity, integrity, and social justice with unconditional regard for all people are included in this caring professional approach. The nursing role is to help provide safe and healthy environments where health is the central focus while assisting that person to live in optimal health (GCU, 2011). Nursing practice includes health promotion, disease prevention, early detection of health deviations, prompt and adequate treatment of the human response to acute and chronic illness, and compassionate care for those experiencing death. (GCU, 2011).
The American Association of Colleges of Nursing Fact Sheet (9/22/2014) documents several studies that show a corresponding link between hospitals that have a larger percentage of BSN and graduate level nurses employed and lower mortality rates, fewer medication errors, and positive outcomes. Per the AACN fact sheet (9/22/2014) the facilities that employ mostly BSN nurses......

...Nurses Prepared by Associate degree vs. Baccalaureate degree
Grand Canyon University
November 14, 2014
A “nurse is a nurse” right? Wrong! Nurses are prepared at different levels. Each level offers its own advantage that can be taken into the nursing career to serve patients and create individualized care to ensure the best outcomes. However, each degree does not prepare future nurses in the same way.
A Baccalaureate of Science in Nursing or BSN is a four to five year degree that prepares graduates to pass the NCLEX examination and become a Registered Nurse. In the 1950’s baccalaureate nursing programs were made accessible to high school graduates throughout the country. This was due to the passing of GI Bill of Rights in 1946 that helped veterans to get vocational training or attend college. Veteran nurses took the opportunity to get college degrees for nursing and administration. Due to the increase in program enrollment the face of nursing education significantly changed. (Creasia, 2007).
BSN preparation includes more in-depth insight into the field of nursing in its entirety. During the course of study a BSN student learns of many concepts to gain a comprehensive understanding of the field. These concepts include health promotion and spiritual perspectives. The student also gains understanding on many influences that have an effect on patient care such as legal, ethical, and social.
An Associate Degree in Nursing or an ADN is a two to three year......

...ADN VS. BSN: The Differences
Anna Hernandez
Grand Canyon University
ADN VS BSN The Differences
New trends in healthcare system are requiring optimal patient outcomes in shorter amount of time period. Patients are requiring more advance care for more complex issues hospitals are now in need of highly skilled, trained professionals to provide this level of care. The quality of patient care and outcome of the patient depends a lot on the level of education of the nurse. Case studies have proven that where positive patient outcomes have been linked to nurses that have a higher level of education Baccalaureate prepared. With that being said one of the main differences between the ADN vs. the BSN is the level of education.
There are three educational pathways to become a Registered Nurse 1. Three-year diploma program. 2. Two year Associate Degree program offered at a community college 3. Is a four year program Baccalaureate Degree program. (AACN, 2014, #3) An Associates degree in nursing is earned over a course of two years and the curriculum is more technical and bedside focused (Creasia &Friberg, 2011). The Bachelor of Science in nursing includes the same course work as the ADN. The BSN is more in depth in the treatment of the physical and social sciences, nursing research, public and community health, nursing management and humanities (AACN, 2014, para#4) According to the AACN “ The additional course work enhances the students professional development,......

...Difference in Skills between ADN’s and BSN Nursing
Misty Garcia
Grand Canyon University
March 05, 2015
ADN vs BSN Competencies
Nursing has transformed throughout the years. Nursing now requires a higher education to provide specialized and excellent care to patients. BSN nurses have increased knowledge to provide patient care that will lead to decreased mortality rates while hospitalized and nurses are able to provide better education for discharge planning.(, 2014) Nurses provide teaching, leadership, medication and skills to have better patient outcomes. Olga Yakusheva a researcher from University of Michigan reported that 10% increase in the proportion of baccalaureate-prepared nurses in hospitals as shown a decrease in hospital deaths by 10.9%. (, 2014) In hospitals there are nurses working as LVN’s, ADN’s and BSN’s.
Associate degrees nurses who have multiple years of experience have acquired the knowledge, skills and competence to prepare a patient for a good outcome at discharge. A nurse with a Baccalaureate degree will lead the nursing staff by collaborating plans of care for patients. Being a patient has helped me comprehend what fears a patient may experience. Patients have learned to ask, “How long you have been a nurse, how many times have you done this, and how much training have you had?”
Nurses need to possess fundamental knowledge of patients’ health needs. Nurses should take part and lead professional initiatives. Improving the quality...

...If you were a patient, do you think you would be able to tell the difference if you had a baccalaureate degree nurse vs. an associate degree nurse? Both the ADN and the BSN have the specifications needed that you get from accredited colleges to take the NCLEX. Once they pass they have licensure to practice as an RN and are capable of going into and being successful in any type of patient care setting. Let us compare the associate and bachelor degree and see if there are any differences or similarities. Some studies show that the BSN prepared nurse can have better patient outcomes. We will look at an example of a clinical situation to show if there is a difference in the care of the patient between an association degree RN and a baccalaureate degree RN.
Mildred Montag was a nurse following World War ll. She saw a need to make more nurses in a shorter amount of time so she shortened the four year BSN and made a two year degree program to make technical nurses. (Grand Canyon University, 2014, Mildred Montag slide). These programs did well because they didn’t cost as much and they took less time. In the ITT Tech (2014) Nursing Associate’s Degree Program, things that are addressed in their education are “nursing values, nursing process, health promotion and maintenance, nursing roles, therapeutic communication skill and competent nursing care.” (ITT Technical Institute, (2014). These nurses can give safe and compassionate care. The primary role meant for the associate......

...Differences between Nurses Educated at Associate Level vs. Baccalaureate Level Nursing
Christy Lilly
Grand Canyon University: NRS-430V-O501
March 27, 2015
Differences between Nurses Prepared at
Associate Level vs. Baccalaureate Level
Education can be a factor in determining a person’s success and well-being. Does the difference in RN education play a role in well-being of those they care for? I will explain some educational differences between an Associate Degree Nurse (ADN) and a Baccalaureate of Science Nurse (BSN). Also, I will share a clinical case scenario to demonstrate the differences in approach, experience and skills effect clinical decisions made by a BSN and an ADN nurse.
Associate Degree Nursing Education
The ADN requires two or three years of college, whether at a community college or junior college. The graduate earns an Associates of Science in Nursing and is qualified to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) to become a licensed registered nurse (RN).
The idea of the ADN was founded by Mildred Montag in 1952 due to the nursing shortage post World War II. Montag proposed a two-year program in junior or community colleges. Her intent was the ADN would be more educated than the untrained nurse, otherwise known as a practical nurse. The ADN would qualify to test for RN licensure and enter practice working under the supervision of a BSN nurse. Montag’s proposed framework and model was not executed completely.......

...ADN versus BSN
NRS-430V-0502
July 5th, 2015
Higher education is the golden standard to achieving a successful career and job. The level of education you accomplish will determine the type of job and quality of work that will be accessible to you in the future. Some people have the perception that an RN is an RN, with little understanding that an RN with an associate’s degree differ from an RN with a bachelor’s degree. I myself had that same perception when I started nursing. After further research, I realized their differences. I feel gratified that I made the right decision to further my education to achieve my BSN.
To break it down to basics, an ADN program is a 2-3 year program that fulfills the nurse education requirement of becoming a registered nurse (Types of Nurses, 2015). An ADN degree nurse critically thinks at a lower level, requiring more guidance from their RN supervisor and the MD in order to follow up and effectively treat their patients. ADNs have less education and knowledge regarding physical and social science, nursing research and study. They are more task-oriented for example: providing bedside care, passing medications, following MD orders, etc. Jobs with advancement and growth opportunities will be limited to the ADN. They are less likely to be chosen for management roles or medical research.
On the other hand, the BSN program is a four-year college degree that prepares RNs for advanced career options in nursing specialty fields......

...How Does Having a BSN VS an ADN Degree Change The Outcome of Patient Care?
Teresa Mock
Grand Canyon University: NRS-430V
January 31st, 2016
When a person goes to the hospital, they expect to get the best care possible by all medical staff. When a nurse goes into a patient’s room, they do not ask the nurse what school they went to or if they received an ADN or BSN degree, they just expect that nurse to be competent in their job. The NCLEX-RN exam is based on minimal competency and does distinguish between graduate levels. Therefore, all nurses graduating from a nursing program and getting ready to take the exam are equal at that time.
Regardless of whether a nurse graduates with their associates or bachelor’s degree, when they are hired at a hospital or health care facility, the extensive training gets them prepared to deliver safe effective patient care. Although receiving a BSN degree a person will achieve better assessment skills, critical thinking, communication, and leadership skills, graduating with an associates does not make a nurse less competent. All nursing programs teach how to assess, plan, implement, diagnose, teach, and evaluate, the skills it takes to be a nurse. In a hospital setting, acute care units have critically ill patient, which makes them unpredictable and challenging, therefore the nurses need have sharp critical thinking skills, perform quality patient care, and maintain positive outcomes. Patient load makes it difficult for any nurse to...

...be an arduous task when considering the age of the prospective student, traditional vs. non-traditional, parental expectations, socioeconomic status, time and distance. How does one maneuver through the decision process? “Regardless of the reasons, the system of nursing education to both gain entry into the profession as well as advance within the profession is chaotic, confusing and redundant” (Frieberg & Creasia, 2016). The history of the development of nursing as a profession offers some explanation for these various avenues to obtaining a degree, but history does not tell nurses how to overcome the dilemma of which path to take. Individual nurses must determine for themselves which educational level suites their needs. The nursing profession on the other hand has evidence to support higher education over the ease of Associate and Diploma programs.
Baccalaureate Degree Program
Baccalaureate degree nursing programs, also called Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) were the first avenue available to receive a nursing degree. Established in 1909, and not entirely taking off until after World War II, these “programs were five years in length and consisted of two years of general education followed by three years of nursing” (Frieberg & Creasia, 2016). Currently a BSN program is comprised of two years of general education and two years of nursing. Costs of these programs are variable. BSN prepared nurses are ready for the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX)......

...BSN versus ADN
Echo Browning RN/CWCA
Grand Canyon University: NRS 430v
February 19, 2012
Abstract
For many years, society has debated about the nursing degree. What are the differences? What are the similarities? We have the opportunities to choose different levels of nursing education. Which include: diploma, associate degree, baccalaureate degree, masters’ degree and nurse practitioner. In beginning we need to understand “What is nursing” in general?
As defined by the ANA: Nursing is the protection, promotion, and optimization of health and abilities, prevention of illness and injury, alleviation of suffering through the diagnosis and treatment of human response, and advocacy in the care of individuals, families, communities, and populations.
In my eyes nursing involves the use of critical thinking and clinical judgment to help us understand a client’s response to actual needs. However, the debate still turns to ADN vs BSN.
ADN vs BSN: Differences in competencies
ADN: Associate Degree Nursing
The associate degree level of nursing was developed out of a need to produce nurses in response to a shortage during and following World War II. Therefore, it was proposed as a temporary solution to a shortage but was not intended to replace the professional level of nursing education. Associate degree nursing programs are developed to focus mainly on the clinical skills and are more task oriented. They lack the theory and science behind nursing as a......

...ADN VS BSN |
Associate Vs. Baccalaureate Prepared Nurses |
GCU : NRS-430V Professional Dynamics – Jessica Dane | |
Differences between an Associate and a Baccalaureate Prepared Nurse
Before I can go on explaining the differences between an associate and a baccalaureate prepared nurse, I have to answer the important question of, what is nursing? Nursing is more than just medicine treating a health problem. Nursing incorporates both medicine and humanity by taking care of a patient in a health sense and a mental sense.
There are three degrees available to the public in order for them to become registered nurses. A Baccalaureate of Science in Nursing, also called a BSN, undergoes four years of a nursing program in university or college; whereas as in a Associate’s Degree in Nursing, also called an AND, is trained in a community college for two years. A diploma nurse program is a nursing program that is hospital based, extending for about three years. All nurses are a required to take the RN license exam before working as a registered nurse. This test should be taken regardless of the education the nurse received.
The formal education of a registered nurse plays a vital role in a health care setting with difficult patient care needs. The nurse training a BSN receives is designed to have more multi focused. The training is taught this way to make the nurse themselves become more efficient in the different areas of health care settings. The primary focuses of......